DID YOU READ

J.J. Abrams thinks movies cost too much

J.J. Abrams has proven time and again that it’s possible to make a successful blockbuster without breaking the bank. He just wishes that other directors and studios would jump on the bandwagon.

“It is preposterous and embarrassing that movies cost what they do,” he said in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.

We’ve been saying the same thing for years, but it’s very refreshing to hear the words come out of the mouth of one of Hollywood’s biggest directors. Abrams seems to try to practice what he preaches, reportedly being one of Paramount Pictures’ most frugal directors even though the budget on “Star Trek 2” ended up going up to $185 million. But he hasn’t blown $250 million on films like “The Dark Knight Rises” and “John Carter” did, and his movies almost always turn a profit.

Abrams has also proven that he’s just as capable with movies that don’t cost much as he is with films that do. “Cloverfield” and “Super 8” are two of his biggest success stories, and they cost $25 million and $50 million respectively. Abrams is still guilty of a bloated budget or three, but at least he’s always conscious of trying to keep the money down.

“Certainly on ‘Star Trek’ and the sequel and on ‘Mission: Impossible’ three and four, we had massive budget issues always,” he said. “Yet we always get it figured out before production starts and realize that the money you don’t get forces you to rethink something and challenges you to figure it out in a new way.”

This past year has proven more than any other that flashy expensive movies don’t always mean that success is guaranteed. But studios have been throwing more and more money into films in a go-big-or-go-home strategy, and it doesn’t always work out well in the long run. Abrams said he believes that the focus should be on trying to make quality films on reasonable budgets instead of having everything cost as much as “Avatar.”

“I am as interested in and obsessed with what can be done in the feature world for a price as anyone at any studio,” said Abrams. “I feel like it is incumbent upon filmmakers today to treat it like their own money.”

Do you agree with Abrams’ outlook? Tell us in the comments section below or on Facebook and Twitter.

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The Best Of The Last

The end is near. In mere days Portlandia wraps up its final season, and oh what a season it’s been. Lucky for you, you can watch the entire season right now right here and on the IFC app, including this free episode courtesy of Subaru.

But now, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the new classics Fred and Carrie have so thoughtfully bestowed upon us. (We’ll be looking back through tear-blurred eyes, but you do you.)

Couples Dinner

It’s not that being single sucks, it’s that you suck if you’re single.

Cancel it!

A sketch for anyone who has cancelled more appointments than they’ve kept. Which is everyone.

Forgotten America

This one’s a “Serial” killer…everything both right and wrong about true crime podcasts.

Wedding Planners

The only bad wedding is a boring wedding.

Disaster Hut

It’s only the end of the world if your doomsday kit doesn’t include rosé.

Catch up on Portlandia’s final episodes on demand and at IFC.com

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Your Portlandia Personality Test

Carrie and Fred understand that although we have so much in common, we’re each so beautifully unique and different. To help us navigate those differences, Portlandia has found an easy and honest way to embrace our special selves in the form of a progressive new traffic system: a specific lane for every kind of driver. It’s all in honor of the show’s 8th and final season, and it’s all presented by Subaru.

Ready to find out who you really are? Match your personality to a lane and hop on the expressway to self-understanding.

Lane 10: Trucks Piled With Junk

Your junk is falling out of your trunk. Shake a tail light, people — this lane is for you.

Lane 33: Twins

You’re like a Gemini, but waaaay more pedestrian. Maybe you and a friend just wear the same outfits a lot. Who cares, it’s just twinning enough to make you feel special.

Lane 27: Broken Windows

Bad luck follows you around and everyone knows it. Your proverbial seat is always damp from proverbial rain. Is this the universe telling you to swallow your pride? Yes.

Lane 69: Filthy Cars

You’re all about convenience. Getting your car washed while you drive is a no-brainer.

Lane 43: Newly Divorced Singles

It’s been a while since you’ve driven alone, and you don’t know the rules of the road anymore. What’s too fast? What’s too slow? Are you sending the right signals? Don’t worry, the breakdown lane is nearby if you need it.

Still can’t find a lane to match your personality? Check out all the videos here. And see the final season of Portlandia this spring on IFC.